Saturday, December 24, 2011

There isn't anything more "Magical" (that I know of) than spending 7 days at Disney World during the Christmas season...

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

Now don't get me wrong...Disney is "Magical" at any time of year but only once a year is it even more "Magical"!!!

Somehow, I keep returning to Disney every year (sometimes twice a year), since I first stepped foot on the Mouse Pad in 2007.

This time, I had two very special guests with me...

My sister (Penny) and my 18 year old niece (Payton), both have never caught the mouse fever until now...

ON FLIGHT TO DISNEY...

WITHIN 24 HOURS OF ARRIVAL,

WE ALL HAD MOUSE FEVER!!!!

It's contagious! I know! Maybe I should warn you...

the photos below are really "Magically Contagious"!!!!

(guaranteed to put a smile on your face)

We visited all four Disney parks with a five day pass...

EPCOT...

Where Payton found Nemo and friends!

Visited 11 countries...including France!

And Payton gave Santa her Christmas wish list...

(poor baby still doesn't have an iPhone)

Then she decided to phone home and let everyone know that she wasn't coming home anytime soon...

After traveling through the countries and riding everything at Epcot, we rested and woke up early for a big day at...

MAGIC KINGDOM (twice)

Where we felt like Princesses!

(which we truly are in real life because

our tiaras are invisible to the "real" world...

did you know that? ;)

Alice Penny spun round and round in a "Magical" tea cup

in Fantasy Land...

We had 1st class seats for the "Dream Come True" parade

to see Mickey & Minnie...

Pinocchio...

Aladdin...

Cinderella...

and the Beast (my all-time favorite fairytale of all)...

We also had 1st class seats for the "Magical" Electric Parade which is a Disney Classic Must See!!!!

Tinkerbell...

Puff the Magic Dragon...

Tribute to America...

and much MUCH more!!!

And of course...

the finale of the "Lighting of Cinderella's Castle"

The Castle went from this...

to this...

to this...

to this...

to this...

to this...in a sequence of Magical Lights & Fireworks!!!!

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

Spectacular...Disney style!!!!

Then on Day Three, we were off to

ANIMAL KINGDOM...

And stood in awe at the "Tree of Life", carved with over 300 animals...

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

We went on a "real" African Safari ride, with "invisible" boundaries to the most amazing animals!!! ...

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

and birds!!! ...

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

LOTS of giraffes...

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

and baby elephants!!!! ...

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

We were able to see the Broadway-style musical

"Nemo & Friends"

which made Payton a happy little mouse!!! ...

And Payton and I braved the Yeti of Mount Everest!!!

(Note: Penny totally chickened out)

We sang along in the "Lion King" musical, which brought out the animal in some of us...

And basically had a "wild" time :)))

Our last park after 4 days of Disney was

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS...

I have to say, I really enjoyed this park. Of all the times I've come to Disney, I never stopped here as everyone said it was their "least liked park"... whaaaat?

All I can say is I've been missing out because I LOVE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS and I will be back here next month!!!!

Payton and I learned a lot about Walt Disney himself...

and little tidbits like...

After creating Disney Land in California and years of planning Disney World in Florida, Walt Disney never saw the completion of Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Walt Disney died December 15, 1966.

Below is his original office from California...

His brother (& partner of the Disney trademark), Roy Disney proceeded with the Florida project after Walt's death, opened it's doors on October 1, 1971 (my 1st birthday) and named it after his brother ... "Walt Disney World".

Later came Epcot, then MGM Studios (now called Hollywood Studios), and then the newest and largest park, Animal Kingdom.

There was so much to learn here, so much to see.

But we DID walk through the haunted lobby of

The Hollywood Tower Hotel...

(above photo taken by Payton Fruge')

Yes...the Tower of Terror...we did it!

Me? never again.

Payton? over and over again.

And there are over 100 variations of the ride so chances are, you will never have the same elevator experience in your lifetime!

I think we saw it all, and rode it all except for the "Rockin' Rollercoaster"... somehow we missed it :(((

We even enjoyed "The Little Mermaid"... even though Payton doesn't remember watching the movie when she was little.

Chances are, she fell asleep as she does with all movies!!!

One of my favorite shows was the musical

"The Beauty and the Beast".

"Belle" is so beautiful...and such a simple girl...

I'm not sure why I love it so much but I always have.

(maybe because I LOVE "Lumiere",

he's so cute with his french accent!!!)

I think it's the fact that someone could truly love something so scary, so mean, so ugly...

without knowing something (like a prince) could come out of it in the end.

To me that is real love...aaahhh. A true fairytale! ;)

Yes...I'm definitely going back to Hollywood Studios when The Man and I go back to Disney next month!

Since Payton and I had done (almost) EVERYTHING possible at Disney, we designated a whole day for...

HARRY POTTER!!!!

Can you tell in the photo above that she is pooped out?

I'm practically having to hold her up!!!

This was Day 6 of non-stop park fun.

ALL day. EVERY day.

Let me give you a quick update ... By this time, my voice was gone, Penny had flown home already (good nurses can't play that long), Payton and I went to Cirque du Soleil's "La Nouba" (late night show) and we were two tired little mice princesses!!!

Notice she has forfeited her Minnie ears?

Now...

Here we were in Hogsmeade...waiting for the Hogwart's Express to take us to Hogwart's!!!!

I appreciate the fact that I may have inspired you with my photos but I ask that you please request permission from me prior to using them for any purpose unless I have granted you the copyright. Thank you for your respect in advance.